AP PhotoJohn Kuester has yet to discuss his Detroit Pistons tenure with Detroit media since he was fired in June 2011.

AUBURN HILLS – John Kuester,
fired as Detroit Pistons coach last June, rebuffed efforts
to interview him today in his return to The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Kuester, now an assistant coach on
Mike Brown's staff with the Los Angeles Lakers, blew past reporters
in the first effort to interview him after the Lakers' pre-game
shootaround today. He later returned to the playing floor, and as he
departed, shook a few hands, said his daughter was doing well when
asked, but did not respond when asked for interviews.

The Pistons play the Lakers in a 7:30 p.m. game.

Kuester never has talked to
Detroit media about his dismissal after a 57-107 record in two seasons, marked by insubordination and a player uprising in the
second year.

The Times said Kuester used the
words "challenging" and "stressful" several times in
describing his time as Pistons coach, but added, "I try to look
back at the good."

He told the ESPN site, "The
bottom line, this is a game where you've got to win, and if things
don't work out the way you want them to, then obviously they make
changes. But I am very appreciative to the fact that I got an
opportunity. The people of Detroit were great. I wish them nothing
but the best."

In his first public remarks about
his tenure with the Pistons, Kuester told the site that he has had
several conversations with some of the players who revolted and did
not attend a game-day shootaround on Feb. 25, 2011, in Philadelphia.

Kuester specifically said he and
Rip Hamilton, who was perceived as a ringleader in the mutiny, have
had “a conversation where we came to an understanding. I felt very
comfortable at the end of the conversation.”